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How To Be Successful on Depop
How to make it on Depop? Find your niche, list every day, and ship fast! Read more tips from three Depop sellers below.
Since Depop was founded in 2011, over $5 billion of goods have been sold by the Depop community, and over 43 million people have registered an account on the platform, according to the company. There are over 400k new listings on Depop every day.
Depop has greatly contributed to the popularity of thrifting and secondhand, especially among Gen Z and Generation Alpha.
Depop gained immense popularity during the pandemic, and is still the most relevant selling platform for many younger vendors.
We reached out to three Depop sellers and asked for their insights on how to make Depop work for you.
Alexa Austin launched her High Tide Thrift store on Depop in the fall of 2020, after initially running her store as a “bidding account” on Instagram.
“My audience was younger and trend-driven, and when I began college that fall, I knew I needed to transition to a platform that was easier to manage while still appealing to this same demographic. I chose Depop because I could do exactly that. I was also drawn to the fact that Depop offers a lot of creative freedom to make your account unique to you.”
Now, Alexa has been one of the top Depop sellers for over 4 years.
Alonzo J Gumm of Lame-O Vintage chose Depop because it aligned with their values and vision.
“Depop felt the most aligned with how I wanted to present my pieces. Depop is more visual and image-forward than other platforms and is built around community. On other platforms, it can feel like you have to keep descriptions and photos very straightforward, with little room for personality.
I’ve always felt like I can treat my Depop shop more like a creative project than a storefront. I can share the stories behind pieces, style them in a way that feels true to me, and engage directly with buyers who value that personal touch. It’s a platform that supports individuality and makes space for niche aesthetics, which has been key for my growth.”
Also, Jacob Grimes of Madman Vintage emphasizes the community aspect of Depop. “Don’t worry about being the most successful person on Depop, just build a good community on Depop and on other social media to help get your name out there.”
All the interviewees agree that it is crucial to be active on TikTok and Instagram to promote their businesses and further expand their community. “For promotion, Instagram and TikTok are incredible tools. Sharing behind-the-scenes content and freshly picked finds on your story builds interest and brings people into your process. It’s a great way to showcase your perspective and drive traffic to your shop”, Alonzo says.
Depop even has a special program (Depop Insider Program) that rewards sellers who create and post Depop and thrift-related content on social media.
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Of all the selling platforms, Depop is clearly the most trend-driven and has the youngest audience. To be successful on the platform, sellers need to keep this in mind. But even more important is to sell items that you are genuinely excited about, Alexa and Alonzo say.
“I enjoy selling on Depop because I’ve found my niche. I sell unique vintage & modern finds that tend to be trend-driven. I have a lot of fun every time I go sourcing for this reason – I get to find the fun stuff everyone will be wearing in the next 6 months to 2 years. Sell what you know best; if you’re into the y2k aesthetic, source pieces that you would wear yourself or could see yourself wearing. Not only do people prefer curated shops, but you end up with many fewer unsold pieces if you source this way”, Alexa says.
“If you’re obsessed with what you’re listing, that energy comes through and keeps you motivated to stay consistent”, Alonzo confirms.
As with any selling platform, consistency in listing is key on Depop. Jacob lists 15 new items every single day, Alexa 5-10. “If you want to sell seriously on Depop, list every day,” she says.
To be able to list every day, the seller needs to have a steady and sure source of items to list. “You need to find avenues to get a lot of products for as cheap as possible”, Jacob says.
“Diversify where you source from. Relying on one place to source can be dangerous. Reselling is only becoming more and more popular, so it’s important to have different ways to get inventory. I typically buy from the Goodwill Bins, but I also love to go to garage sales, estate sales, and Facebook marketplace.”, Alexa tells.
Next, be ready to ship as soon as you can. “Fast shipping goes a long way. One big problem with Depop right now is that people don’t ship their orders out for days or even weeks. If you can ship the next day, you’ll have a lot of happy customers leaving positive reviews.”
But no selling platform is perfect. Depop gets a lot of hate, too, especially for the low-ball offers and inaccurate listings.
“Selling on Depop can be frustrating at times because of the lowball offers or the younger audience being kinda rude. My advice is to be respectful and open”, Alexa says.
Lastly, Alonzo mentions how Depop consistently uplifts marginalized communities. “As a queer person of color, it’s important to me that the platforms I work with reflect my values. During Pride Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more, Depop makes space to spotlight underrepresented sellers. That kind of visibility really matters.“
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